Connection for collapsible articles of furniture



Jail 10, 1933- E. VANDERMINDEN 1,893,693

CONNECTION FOR COLLAPSIBLE ARTICLES OF FURNITURE Filed OC. 17, 1929 MmmmW" www@ INVENTOR ATTORNE 5 Patented Jan. 10, 1933 UNITED STATE-S OFFICE EDWIN VANDERMINDEN, OF GRANVILLE, NEW YORK, ASSIGNOR '10- TELESCOPE COT BED COMPANY, 0F GRANVILLE, NEW YORK, A CORPORATION 0F NEW YORK Application filed catcher 17, lege. serial No. 400,205.

This invention relates to connections for articles of yfurniture and more particularly to pivotal connections for collapsible articles of furniture.

An object of the invention is to provide a new, simple, and lefficient connection for two members pivotally related in collapsible articles of furniture.

According t0 the present invention, use is made of a connecting member proper having portions extending at right angles to each other, to one section yof which is rigidly secured one member of the article .of furniture and to the other of which is pivotally secured another member of the saine article of furniture.

In order that these two members may be positioned at right angles to each other and when in this position locked against movement, an arrangement iS Provide-, 1 whereby .the point of rotation yof the movable member is shifted so that the member itself is forced into contact with at least two members spaced apart and lying in snbstantially the same plane or with a single member of considerable length. When in this position it is imossible to rotate .the movable member without shifting its pivotal point away from locking position.

Other objects and features of this invention will become apparent by reference to the following detailed description read in the light of the accompanying drawing, wherein:

Fig. 1 is `a perspective view of one end of a collapsible cot having one embodiment kof the present invention therein.

Fig. 2 is a side elevation of `one embodiment of the invention showing the parts in Vtheir respective positions.

Fig. 3 is an end view of the same device illustrated in Fig. 2.

Fig. 4 is a view somewhat zsimilar to Fig. 2 of a modication Y of the invention, and

Fig. 5 is Aa view similar to Fig. 3 O :the device illustrated in Fig. 4.

Referring now to the drawing, 1() `indicates a collapsible cot havine' lees 11 ,and 12 supporting one end thereofaanl connected 0 respectively to side bars 13 and l14 `covered 18 spaced from the iirst plate and situated at another extremity of the member. One of the side bars 14 is rigidly secured between portions of the plates 15 and 16, while the leg' 1l is pivot-ally mounted between other portions of these two plates. The pivotal connection ffor mounting of one member within the connecting device is snbstantially as follows: In each of the plates 15 and 16 is punched a slot 19 which .extends angularly ,s

yaway vfrom the connecting bar 17. The leg 11 is provided with a pin 20 which extends therethrough land also through the two slots 19. Any suitable arrangement is provided for preventing disengagement of the pin 2() from the slots and its leg 11 after the same has been assembled. As will be noted from the drawing, the pin extends through leg l1 some distance from the end thereof, this distance being an amount substantially equal to the distance between the upper .extremity ,of .each of the slots 19 and the lower edgevof the side bar 14. A

If se desired, an angle member' 21 may be. secured to the side bar 14 when the device is assembled for aiding in supporting the leg 11 when the same is extended at right angles to the bar 14. The free edge v21 of angle member 2) is bent out .of alinement somewhat to prevent mutilation of the end of leg 11 .which is of wooden construction, while the .edge 17 of connecting plate 17 is likewise bentoutwardly for the'same purpose.

The canvas .or other covering material utilized in connection with ,the device may be .subjected to the 'side bars lfand 1 4 in any desired manner and may lalsobe secured to the connecting member for purposes of strength :and durability. One type of connection is illustrated clearly in Fig. 3, lwhere-- in an eyelet 22 secured in the canvas 23 is clam ed in place by means of a tongue 24 punc ed from the plate 15.

The operation of this connection between the legs represented in this instance by the leg 11 and bar 14 is substantially as follows: Assuming that the artic-le of furniture is in collapsed position with the leg 11 lying substantially parallel to the bar 14, the device may be extended by rotating this leg 11 about its pivotal point. In collapsed position, it will be noted that the end of the leg 11 extends through the space between the plates 17 and 18 and that the pin 20 is positioned in the slot at approximately its upper extremity. The leg 11 may now be rota-ted about the pin 2O and to permit the end thereof to slide past the upturned extension 17 it is necessary to pull the leg until the pin rests in the lower extremities of slots 19. When it has been completely rotated to extend to right angles with respect to bar 14, the leg 11 may be locked in position by forcing the end thereof directly upwardly into approximate Contact with the bar 14. In carrying out this movement, the pivotal point of leg 11 is shifted diagonally so that the outside face 11 thereof rests flush against the inside faces of the plates 17 and 18. In this position as long as any pressure is exerted upon the bar 14 forcing the same downwardly against the end of leg 11, it will be impossible to rotate this leg 11 relative to the bar. The diagonal movement of the pivotal point to bring the face of the leg into contact with the faces of the spaced connecting bars is sufficient to thoroughly lock the leg against movement and for that reason the angle member 21 may be dispensed with, if desired. Until the pivotal point is shifted back to its lowermost position the leg 11 cannot be rotated in either direction. The angle member 2l, however, serves other useful functions such as preventing rotation, to any appreciable degree, of the legs in the direction opposite to that desired, which is into the position shown in dotted lines. Attempted rotation in the other direction without member 21 would strain the parts and might possibly result in breakage.

If so desired, the wooden construction of the legs 11 and 12 and the side bars 13 and 14 may be dispensed with and metallic members substituted therefor. This arrangement is illustrated in Figs. 4 and 5 wherein leg 31 is in pivotal relation to a side bar 34. As in the preceding structure, use is made of a connecting member for the leg 31 and bar 34 which is composed primarily of side plates 35 and 36 rigidly secured to the side bar 34 and provided with diagonally extending slots 39 for the passage of a pin 40 extending through the leg 31. Plates 37 and 38 are also utilized for connecting the plates 35 and 36 in a manner corresponding to the plates 17 and 18. These plates 37 and 38 preferably will be of such shape as to correspond to the configuration of leg 31 and in the present instance they are provided with a curvature corresponding to the periphery of this leg.

The operation and use of the arrangement illustrated in Figs. 4 and 5 is substantially the same as that explained in connection with the preceding structure. Leg 31 may be moved about its pivotal point to light substantially parallel to bar 34 or may .be rotated about its pivotal point to extend at right angles thereto. When so extended, it is locked in position bymovement toward the bar 34 which movement shifts its pivotal point diagonally by bringing the outside face of periphery into contact with the inside faces of plates 37 and 38. In this position it cannot be rotated Vas long as any forces tend to hold it against movement away from bar 34.

From the foregoing, it will be seen that the present invention provides a connection between two members capable of relative rotation which connection likewise provides for locking these members against rotation when they areat right angles to each other, without the use of a separate locking member as is commonly provided in present collapsible articles of furniture.

While the device constructed in accordance with the present invention has been illustrated as forming a part of a collapsible cot, it will be evident to those skilled in the art that the use of thereof is not restricted to any particular article of furniture, or in fact retricted to articles of furniture. The connection is of material use and advantage in any installation wherein it is desirable to provide a connection between two members having relatively pivotal motion and which are to be v`locked at right angles to each other for any purpose. It is furthermore to be understood that the present invention is capable of modifcation andv is to be limited only by the scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

l. In an article of folding furniture of the `class described, a horizontal frame member,

a connecting bracket secured to said member and comprisingpone side with a cut-out portion, registering slots in the adjacent sides inclined slightly from parallelism with and towards the end of the cut-out side nearer the frame member, said slots substantially within the projected area of said cut-out portion, a supporting bar, pivots at its upper end pivotally and slidably engaging the slots of said bracket, said bar adapted when positioned at right angles to the frame member. to be wedged against the cut-out side of the bracket by the action of the inclined slots and the pivots when pushed towards the frame member and to have its end swing through the cut-out portion of the one sidefor folding when the bar pivots are brought to a lower position in said slots.

2. In an article of the character described, a frame member, a connecting bracket of channel form secured to said member, an opening in the rear of said channel bracket at right angles to the frame member, registering slots in the sides of said bracket substantially in the area between the upper and lower limits of the opening, a supporting leg for said member comprising a set of pivots at the upper end thereof, said pivots engaging in said slots, and adapted when at right angles to the rame member and pushed upwardly in the bracket slots to be wedged against the back of the bracket channel and when withdrawn from such position to fold by virtue of the upper end swinging through the opening in the back of said channel bracket.

In testimony whereof, I have signed my name to this specification.

EDWIN VANDERMINDEN. 

